Binders

[Pyropow3r]

I need a binder to make charcoal streamers... I did make dextrin once upon a time but i have ran out.... And i dont really want to make more it takes hours to make (you know how it is into the oven mix the powder every fifteen minutes for 2-3 hours on 200 degrees)

 

so i would like to know some binder alternatives and where i could possibly get them

 

 

.............Thanks

[NightHawkInLight]

How do you do anything at all if you're too lazy to stir corn starch in the oven? You could have made 20 pounds in the amount of time since your post.

[Mumbles]

You must have a big oven if you can make 20lbs in a few hours there nighthawk

 

If you really can't be bothered in any way to make dextrin, you might consider purchasing it, or using liquid laundry starch. There are other binders, but if you can't manage to make dextrin, you probably can't manage to look for them.

[Pyropow3r]

I do recall other people using laundry starch a while ago but is it any good ??? or perhaps wheat paste could work as a binder as well ??? Edited May 13, 2010 by Pyropow3r

[Pretty green flame]

Wheat paste is actually a VERY good binder. I've made charcoal streamers with wheat paste in the past and these were probably the hardest stars i've made. The only downside, it dries very slowly, a drying box should speed things up a bit.

[Pyropow3r]

How do you do anything at all if you're too lazy to stir corn starch in the oven? You could have made 20 pounds in the amount of time since your post.

 

 

 

Lazy..... nah i dont think so all you other guys have got it easy....buy tubes and have them shipped to your door... you can buy fuse for cheap....all sorts of chems delivered to your door for cheap.... the list goes on.... i cant have any of that stuff...

 

Fuse i have to roll my own...

 

Tubes i have to roll my own...

 

The only chem i can get here in Aus is (KNO3 only just...) so all i can make is charcoal and sulfur based comps....I cant get AL so i cant make white stars

 

making various colored stars other than gold can only be a dream....

 

Its anybody's guess why i cant be bothered to make dextrin...i already make everything else

 

Back to topic here .... Binders other than dextrin

[Ralph]

http://www.diversehobbies.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23_82&products_id=350 buy some he is an Aussie supplier

[jwitt]

Wow...you guys don't have it quite as hard as I thought, he has quite an assortment of stuff!

 

Pyropowr- If I recall, reputable people here say commercial dextrin is superior to homemade. I know I get rock hard stars from commercial stuff.

 

SGRS is on his page too, it's reputed to be quite a good binder- see Shimizu.

 

Additionally, one kno3 based color star you can make is a Zn Pearl or Granite star. I've made Pearl, and I highly recommend it. Granite has more Zn in it. I made Pearl stars by screening the BP components, dumping in a tub, adding Zn and shaking it up, and cutting. Primed with green mix. These stars don't seem to get much attention, and I'm sure the color isn't as bright as more complex color stars, but they're beautiful! I could literally sit in my backyard lighting pearl stars and chuckin' them into the air for an hour and not get bored. So yeah, if you order dextrin from him, grab some Zn.

[dagabu]

pypow3r,

 

Try TrueBluePyro Will has a lot of stuff for you right in your back yard.

 

[Ralph]

Wow...you guys don't have it quite as hard as I thought, he has quite an assortment of stuff!

 

Pyropowr- If I recall, reputable people here say commercial dextrin is superior to homemade. I know I get rock hard stars from commercial stuff.

 

 

He is the best supplier in Aus next one down has a very limited range. but the amount of stuff we can get in Aus has been improving to fairly much every pyro chem now

 

Home made gives you rock hard stars commercial cake take a few more cm of height on the drop shock test rig before breaking and its easier

 

Dagabu the only binder listed there is CMC and I dont think there is any in stock seeing as the prices have been removed

Edited May 14, 2010 by Ralph

[baran420]

Pyropow3r, You think you have it tough, try being a pyro in NZ!!

 

This is somewhat off topic but I find that my easily made dextrin makes the hardest tubes when used as a binder/glue. much harder than PVA. If you find that power consumption is an issue do what I do-chuck a shallow tray of cornflour in the oven when the wife has a roast chicken on. Some stirring required naturally

[Pyropow3r]

UPDATE... New method and binder makes great stars and is very fast drying....

 

I came up with this method yesterday..... As a result of my quest to make fast drying stars with readily available of the shelf materials...

 

Materials needed:

 

- Star comp (i used c6 stars)

 

- PVA glue otherwise known as white glue or Elmers bond

 

- Some kind of alcohol or other white spirit

 

Method:

 

- weigh out 5% PVA glue when compared to your star comp

 

- mix the PVA with a reasonable amount of alcohol until dissolved... at first it will seem like they cant mix together but keep stiring and it will come good.. use a fork or whisk to speed

things up

 

- It should be like a clear syrup like consistency.... kinda like corn syrup

 

- Add this to your star comp mix and mash it in good..

 

- since i am going to cut my stars you will need to add more alcohol to make it into a play-doh like consistency

 

- when play-doh like consistency is achieved roll out the comp to desired thickness and cut into stars and leave to dry over night

 

- Now you have your stars ready to use ....... quick and easy

 

REVIEW:

 

- Water may be used instead of alcohol as a result you drying time will be increased dramatically

 

- drying time of stars made with alcohol will dry very quickly!!! due to the very low evaporation point of alcohol

 

- stars can be made and used the next day!!!!! even in very cold damp conditions

[Arthur]

Dextrin is a retail commodity from pyro chemical suppliers just buy some! It's easier than DIY but.... Any comp with red gum can be mixed with acetone and this will turn the red gum into a tough and stringy goo which will bind anything (including the tools and cutting board and mixing bowl). Acetone evaporates in an hour or so, but it costs a fortune to keep evaporating off 100ml of acetone, water is soo much cheaper when you use dextrin.

[dagabu]

Acetone? I have only found alcohol to dissolve redgum to a usable state. Hmmm, go figure!

 

I got a 20# box of yellow Dextrin from Cracker this winter, good stuff. It is so much better then homemade. Still, I am a big fan of same day stars